www.maderatribune.comServing the Heart of California since 1892http://www.maderatribune.com/node/6216/atom.xml2015-03-31T21:22:58+00:00http://www.maderatribune.com/news/stanislaus-fire-roars-out-control2013-08-24T03:59:31+00:002013-08-28T18:54:41+00:00Stanislaus fire roars out of control webmaster

In a span of less than 12 hours from Wednesday night to Thursday morning, a fire within Stanislaus National Forest grew more than three times in size and rampaged almost completely out of firefighter control as it spread in all directions, a spokesperson from the U.S. Forest Service said.

The Rim Fire was sparked Aug. 17 and has charred 53,866 acres of land about 45 miles north of Oakhurst.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, but U.S. Forest Service information officer Bjorn Fredrickson said the main concern faced by firefighters is how to stop the inferno as it threatens 2,500 buildings and forces dozens more evacuations.

“The firefighters working this fire are the best in the business,” Fredrickson said. “They realize they have a very serious job to do looking out for their own safety and the public's safety.” ...